Deerfield’s Response to COVID-19

Commitment to Transparency and Clear Communication

Deerfield is committed to keeping residents informed of COVID-19 cases occurring on our campus. Of course, anything that bears significant importance (identification of clusters, trending, or a notable increase in potential or confirmed cases) will be communicated to residents more expeditiously. There has not been, nor will there ever be, an effort to withhold information from our residents that could prove useful to their safety and welfare. Our primary goal is to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on our campus and, to that end, clear and consistent communication is critical. Knowledge is power. 

Cotton Facemask Project

Thanks to the incredible effort of Michelle Kievit, Art Activities Coordinator, Michelle Wooley, Director of Philanthropy, John Price, Activities Director, and residents Pat Collett and Andrea Stern, Deerfield’s cotton facemask project is in full swing. 

Residents who are interested in lending their sewing skills to this project will be provided with kits that have everything they need to produce 10 high-quality cotton facemasks, including precut 100% cotton fabric and HEPA filter material and the CDC’s hot-off-the-presses facemask pattern. Resulting masks will consist of two layers of tightly woven cotton sandwiching a layer HEPA filter and will be in the accordion style of typical surgical masks. 

In all truth, a cotton facemask is not much in the way of COVID-19 armor. Cotton facemasks are much more effective at providing source control (containing the wearer’s respiratory droplets, thereby minimizing their opportunity to infect others) than at providing protection to the wearer (though there is some benefit in that regard, and especially when highly-filtering materials such as HEPA are used).

So the goal with cotton facemasks is that they are worn by the vast majority of people who must leave their homes for an essential reason. They do not negate the immeasurable importance of staying at home whenever possible, practicing conscientious social distancing, and cleaning one’s hands frequently. When employed in this way, cotton facemasks have the potential to make significant positive impacts on the trajectory of COVID-19 in our country. And, yet again, COVID-19 reminds us of the importance of the collective and community, of our responsibility and great privilege as individuals to make choices that help to support the greater good. 

Once completed, cotton facemasks will be distributed to Deerfield employees, with priority assigned based on risk stratification, and then to Deerfield residents. Thank you, residents, for your donations of material, skill, and time to this vital project!

Housekeeping and Social Distancing 

Deerfield continues to offer in-home weekly housekeeping services to Independent Living residents (as well as the option to voluntarily forgo these services). 

Point-of-Entry Screening

There is a single, comprehensive COVID-19 screening station near the point-of-entry to the Deerfield campus that serves all residents, employees, and necessary visitors. Our drive-thru screening with semi-permanent, temperature controlled sheds, no-touch thermometers, and source-controlled screeners is fully up and running.

(Newest) Buncombe Stay Home-Stay Safe Order

A new Buncombe County Stay Home-Stay Safe Order, issued April 8th, extends the declaration through April 29th (bringing it in alignment with Governor Cooper’s NC state Stay Home Order) and encourages all county residents to continue practicing social/personal distancing, reduce nonessential travel outside the home, and eliminate gathering in groups of any size.  

The order expands upon the original by further defining essential versus non-essential business, the use of personal protective equipment, and travel inside and outside of Buncombe County. 

Of pertinence to Deerfield residents, the order recommends: 

• To wear cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (the grocery store or pharmacy are great examples). 

• Persons age 65 and older (and those with underlying medical conditions) stay in their residence and reduce interaction with others to the greatest extent practical.

• Travel is permitted only for essential activities.To read the order in its entirety, visit: BuncombeCounty.org